The Farmer's Son

Chapter 45 Slow Burn to Ignition

Alan moved into Ray across the connected front seat, turning his head to pin Ray's to the seat with his kiss, his lips warm, soft, and sensual on Ray's, his hunger swallowing Ray's sound of surprise. His hands came up behind Ray's head, fingers flexing and gripping the soft black hair, scratching the warm scalp down to his nap and holding firmly as his tongue licked between Ray's lips, seeking and finding Ray's own receptive tongue.

Though he had been caught completely by surprise, Ray's desire skyrocketed to meet Alan's. Eyes widened in shock quickly closed, his head leaning back and chin tilting up, hands coming up to hold the strong torso under Alan's jacket, muscles flexing under his palms as he pulled Alan even closer, urging him almost onto his lap.

But then the dark brows furrowed, pulling hands pushed, and Ray abruptly broke the kiss.

"What's wrong?" Alan asked breathlessly.

"You tell me," Ray said, equally breathless. "What is this, Alan? What are you doing? Am I just a plaything now?"

"No," Alan said quickly, taken aback. "That's not what I was—"

"Then what are you trying to do, Alan? Because just yesterday you told me I didn't have a chance."

"I never said you didn't have a chance," Alan said, backing off and wiping his mouth with the tips of his fingers. "I said you couldn't use it to stop me from leaving."

"And I've been trying to tell you that I wasn't trying to stop you from leaving. I was—"

"I know."

Ray blinked.

"I overheard you and Darla," Alan added quietly, looking away. "I know what you were trying to tell me. And I'm sorry I couldn't hear it."

Warm, yellow streetlight spilled in through the windshield from the lamppost ahead, illuminating them brightly from waist to ears, and casting the rest in ambient light. In that light, they faced each other across the seat, Alan's knee bent on the seat between them, Ray's arm stretched out to the wheel, cool air on their backs, and their future in front of them.

Ray swallowed, passing a hand over his own wet lips. "Why didn't you say anything?" he asked.

"I was trying to," Alan said. Looking up at Ray from a lowered head, he added, "I've been saying it all day."

"Oh..." Ray breathed, closing his eyes briefly in realization. "That's what is was? The looks and the flirting and touching?"

"Yes," Alan said, bending his head and rubbing his hands over his eyes in embarrassment. "And I thought I was doing such a good job..."

Watching Alan, Ray's face relaxed into a smile. Across the seat, Alan's head lifted as Ray began to laugh. His startled eyes looked at Ray, then gradually he too began to laugh. Soon the confines of the front seat filled with their laughter.

"Oh," Alan said, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I should have been more upfront with you."

"Would have been nice," Ray said, still chuckling. His gaze lingered on Alan, and he reached across the seat with his right hand to touch the bronzed, lightly freckled face. Sugar-colored eyes looked up at him, setting his heartbeat to racing. "What changed your mind?" he asked quietly.

Leaning towards him, Alan raised his hand to Ray's wrist and smiled. "You did."

Blue eyes dropped to still moist lips. "How?"

"By being yourself," Alan murmured, shifting closer towards him.

"Kind of vague," Ray murmured back, the tip of his thumb brushing the underside of Alan's bottom lip. "Can you be a little more specific?"